The next day, Aiden received an invitation from the Department of Mysteries to attend their memorial service.
He used Arthur's fireplace to travel to the Ministry of Magic, parted ways with Arthur, and made his way to the Department. In the grand hall, everyone was dressed in black. For the first time, Aiden saw the faces of all the Unspeakables.
The Director was no exception. When he saw Aiden arrive, he nodded and gestured for him to take a seat.
Dumbledore was the last to arrive. Including him, only two outsiders had been invited to the memorial.
The Director stepped to the center of the hall and began to speak, his voice hoarse but resolute:
"Today, we gather to remember our fallen comrades. May their journey onward be peaceful."
His voice echoed through the hall as he read out every name of the fallen, each syllable weighted with meaning.
The Unspeakables were not silent. Those who died in Avalon could not even have their bodies returned. All that the living could do was remember their names.
Aiden found himself drifting, lost in thought, barely listening to the rest.
He was brought back by a gentle tap on the shoulder. Turning, he found Dumbledore beside him.
"There's no need to be too sad. Believe that these Unspeakables are ready to begin a new adventure," Dumbledore said softly.
"But Professor, they left nothing behind. I didn't even know them. These people, who should have been celebrated, just vanished—no recognition, no applause," Aiden replied, his voice heavy.
"That is why the Silent Slate exists. One day, when we have defeated our enemies, those whose names are carved on the slate will receive the honor they deserve," Dumbledore said, a trace of nostalgia in his eyes.
"But by then, it will be too late, Professor." Aiden shook his head and turned to leave.
Some time after the memorial, Arthur's hard work finally paid off.
"Haha, kids, I got a raise!" Arthur cheered, bursting into the house and scooping up Mrs. Weasley in a hug.
"And guess who won the Daily Prophet's annual Golden Galleon Award!" Arthur spread his arms wide, grinning.
"What, are we rich now?" Ron perked up instantly.
"No, it's just a prize of a thousand Galleons," Aiden said, lounging on the sofa.
"Doesn't that mean—" George looked at Fred, who finished the thought.
"We'll be living comfortably for a while!"
"But don't you already have income from the alchemy shop and the photo stones?" Aiden asked, puzzled.
"We have to save, my child. Think about all my sons—how will they get married in the future?" Mrs. Weasley tapped Aiden on the head, explaining that the money would be saved for the children's futures.
"Okay, as you wish," Aiden shrugged.
"So, how are we going to spend this windfall?" Percy asked.
"I'm planning to take the whole family on a trip to Egypt!" Arthur's eyebrows danced with pride.
"Egypt?" Ginny's sleepy voice piped up.
"Great!" The twins high-fived.
Ron and Percy's faces lit up with excitement.
After packing, the whole family prepared for a relaxing vacation.
But reality was never so simple. When Aiden arrived in Egypt, he was greeted by the local Ministry of Magic—warmly, but with a hint of caution.
Egypt, one of the world's ancient magical civilizations, had also explored the Deep Realm. With their research, it wasn't hard to notice a dragon with a massive psychic presence wandering around.
The Egyptian Ministry staff registered the wands of the Weasley family. When it was Aiden's turn, the staff compared his photo, and both parties' faces turned grim—one side afraid, the other confused.
Not wanting to spoil the Weasleys' trip, Aiden sent them off to enjoy their tour first.
Soon, a staff member from the Department of International Affairs arrived and escorted Aiden to the Egyptian Ministry of Magic.
They descended into the underground of a pyramid, and Aiden had the chance to chat with his guide.
"My name is Amir Nasser," the man introduced himself. "Welcome to the Egyptian Ministry's special department—the Solar Boat."
"Thank you for your company. By the way, what did the British Ministry say about me?" Aiden asked, noticing Amir's respectful tone.
"They said you are Britain's most accomplished wizard in the study of the mind," Amir replied, eyes full of admiration. "And the person with you is probably your descendant, right? I've heard that seniors like you tend to be eccentric, but you seem quite easygoing."
Aiden imagined a certain platinum-robed jerk giving him a peace sign and grinned bitterly.
Amir didn't notice the dreamwalker's subtle disguise and continued, "A long time ago, Egyptians also recognized the infinite power hidden in the mind and began to explore it. But things went wrong, and our ancestors who reached the Deep Realm thought they'd arrived in the underworld."
Amir led the way as he spoke. "Over centuries, all the explorers gathered together and, taking the name of the mythical ship that sailed between two worlds, founded this department."
He stopped at a stone wall, drew a few characters with his wand, and the wall faded away.
"So you built your research department at the base of a pyramid?" Aiden asked, curious.
"Yes, we believe this way we can receive the blessings of our ancestors," Amir replied, revealing a bit about his background.
If something goes wrong, it's the ancestors' graves that get blown up, Aiden thought wryly.
Amir led Aiden through a corridor into the heart of the pyramid. "This pyramid isn't open to the public, so both the Ministry and the Solar Boat are based here," he pointed out.
Inside, the contrast was striking—the harsh desert outside couldn't touch the lush, idyllic landscape within.
"When it was built, Eastern wizards were invited, so the style is a bit… unique," Amir admitted, a little embarrassed.
"It's fine. The scenery here is wonderful," Aiden said, even though it felt odd to compliment the inside of a pharaoh's tomb.
"Please follow me. Our captain has been waiting for you for a long time," Amir said, leading the way deeper into the pyramid.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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